Hackney

Hackney's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and relationships.

The population reached nearly quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Hackney increased by 21%, from just under 203,000 to 246,000.

The addition of just over 43,000 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in London and was the fourth fastest-growing across England.

In 2011, Hackney was home to, on average, 92 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it England's third-most densely-populated borough.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Hackney

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Hackney decreased by one year, from 31 to 30 years.

This cosmopolitan area had the third-lowest average age in London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 19,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 800.

About 23% of people in Hackney are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Hackney by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Hackney

The number of people in Hackney from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups decreased from just over 50,000 in 2001 to about 57,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 25% to 23%.

Across London, the percentage of people from this ethnic group increased by from 11% to 13%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

The number of people in Hackney from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 120,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 59% to 55%. The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 20,000 to about 26,000 (from 9.8% to 11%).

Just under 16,000 people (4.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 8,500 in 2001 (6.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Hackney decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Hackney by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Hackney

Hackney saw London's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58%) people aged 16 and over in Hackney said they were single, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 31% to 27%.

Across the region, only Tower Hamlets saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 48% to 55%).

During this period, Hackney overtook five local authority areas, including Wandsworth and Westminster, to become the London local authority area with the third-highest percentage of single people.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Hackney stood out from other areas for children

The percentage of households with children fell in Hackney, while rising across London.

In Hackney, the proportion came down from 30% in 2001 to 29% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 31%.

The proportion of households without children in Hackney increased from 63% to 64%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 6.6% to 7.1%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across London

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

Hackney saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households in Hackney rented privately, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 50% to 44%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of privately rented homes occurred in Newham (from 18% to 34%) followed by Tower Hamlets (from 16% to 33%).

Private renting in Hackney increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of households in Hackney, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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